UTEP Students Vote Against Athletic Fee

In voting Wednesday and Thursday, UTEP students voted against the Campus Life and Athletic Initiative.

UTEP students voted against the Campus Life and Athletic Initiative with a 2,339 to 1,267 vote, or 62.4 percent were not in favor of the fee.

UTEP officials say the funding would have enriched campus life by increasing opportunities for student participation in clubs and organizations, mainly through the expansion of organization meeting space and Student Life facilities.

The initiative was to support UTEP athletics by providing a stable source of funding for 16 NCAA Division I sports, while at the same time increasing the funding for game-day entertainment, promotions and giveaways for UTEP student fans, UTEP officials said.

Had students voted in favor, the initiative would have added an athletic fee of $10 per credit hour, with a concurrent student service fee decrease of $2, the net increase have been $8 per credit hour.

While students voted against the athletic fee, they did pass the Green Fee Fund with 65 percent voting in favor of it with a 2,435 to 1,086 vote.

Beginning this fall, students will be paying a $3 fee per fall and spring semesters and $1.50 per summer semester to help with green efforts around the UTEP campus.

The student-initiative will allow them along with faculty and staff the opportunity to write proposals on what energy efficient changes they would like to see implemented around campus. Proposals will then be reviewed by a committee of students, faculty and staff before funding is allocated for green projects.

The initiative was passed by the state legislature during the last session. It gives campuses in Texas the option of creating a green fee fund for a five year period before it has to be put up for vote again.

Of the 20,198 students enrolled this spring, only 3,746 or 18.5 percent cast ballots Wednesday and Thursday.